Leo, SITA's baggage robot

Leo, a fully autonomous, self-propelling baggage robot has the capacity to check in, print bag tags and transport up to two suitcases with a maximum weight of 32kg. It also has an obstacle avoidance capability and can navigate in a high-traffic environment such as an airport.

Leo recently took part in a trial at Geneva Airport where several passengers used the robot to check-in their bags.

Leo – named after the Italian Renaissance inventor and engineer Leonardo da Vinci who built what is now recognized as the world’s first robot – comes to the assistance of passengers as they approach the terminal building. Touching Leo’s Scan&Fly bag drop interface opens the baggage compartment doors to allow passengers to place their bags inside. After the passengers have scanned their boarding passes, the tags are printed and can be attached to the bag. With the bags loaded and tagged, the compartment door closes and Leo displays the boarding gate and departure time.

Leo then takes the bags directly to the baggage handling area where they are sorted and connected to the correct flight. The doors of the robot can only be reopened by the operator unloading the baggage in the airport.

The new baggage robot provides a glimpse into the future use of robotics in airports to further streamline the baggage handling process. The use of Leo limits the number of bags in the airport terminal by taking the bag drop outside the airport, enabling passengers to proceed directly to the gate after entering the terminal.

Leo around the world

Leo was trialed at Geneva Airport last May and the baggage robot is now traveling around the world where it is being trialed or demonstrated. From Asia, north Africa and the Americas, LEO continues to open the eyes of the industry and passenger to the possibilities of intelligent machines.

Leo, the innovative baggage robot developed by air transport IT provider SITA, is in Marrakech for the COP22 climate talks taking place in the city from 7-18 November 2016. Leo, is being hosted by Royal...

Leo, the innovative baggage robot, is touring Asia, with visits to Singapore and Hong Kong. Leo is a fully autonomous, self-propelling baggage robot which provides a glimpse into the future of baggage...